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Merry Meet and WelcomeHere we are again with a brand new issue of Cauldrons and Broomsticks for you. Thank you for your kind words about the Beltane issue, it is always good to get constructive feedback from you, either positive or negative. We have been up to quite a lot since the last issue. Weavings now has a Frappr 'Friends of Weavings Map'. This is a beta programme and possibly not the most user friendly software we have come across, but it's still good to know where people are from and how wide a reach we have. Why not add yourself? If you are weavings member, can you please use your screen name so we know who you are. Weavings has also finally woken up to the existence of myspace and you can find us at http://www.myspace.com/weavings. Again, why not pay us a visit and add yourself to our friends list (but if you are not out of the broom closet, don't forget we will also appear on your friends list). Recently an email dropped into my inbox advertising an occult podcast site called Thelema Coast to Coast. If you are interested in Thelema or have a serious interest in the occult, I can highly recommend it and suggest you give it a listen - there is a banner link at the end of Cauldrons and Broomsticks. And talking of podcasts, if you fancy something in a more humorous vein then I suggest you take a listen on Pagan Jeopardy on issue 10 of Deos' Shadow. And talking of podcasts, this could possibly be our next venture. Would you be interested in a podcast version of C&B? Let us know what you think. Turning thoughts back to Lughnasadh, this is something of a bitter-sweet Sabbat when you think about it. For as we celebrate the bounty of the harvest, either food crops or a harvest from a project of some kind, so the God willingly sacrifices himself and is cut down so that his blood may fertilise the land. He leaves the Goddess on her own, but with the knowledge that his seed is in her and he will be reborn. "Behold I was tall and straight in my pride You can read more about Lughnasadh in our Wheel of the Year article At home, we have a fairly busy time coming up with our celebrations this year. We are conducting a ritual for our local pagan group (The Pagan Lion) on 29th July, will hold our own private ritual on Lughnasadh itself and on 5 August we will be going along to a ritual on a nearby beach with drumming into the early hours. Whatever form your own Sabbat celebrations take, may you have fun and be safe, and may the blessings of your god(s) be upon you. Bright blessings Garnet and Magi In this Issue:
The HarvestBy DarkStrider One of my favorite memories from childhood is that of the Missoula County Fair. Sure, the shouts of the carnies trying to entice each passer-by to try to hook the ring, or squirt-gun their horse to the finish line first, or climb the wobbly, swinging rope ladder to the top; and the brightly lit, whirling, looping, tilting, and rusty-looking rides; and the ever present fragrances of cotton-candy, popcorn, hotdogs, and hamburgers were all a powerful draw to the fair. This was the last hurrah before school started. And now that I reflect back on these days spent wandering about the county fairgrounds, I realize that there were other sights, sounds, and scents that tickled and enticed me. It was something subtle and olde and county-wide. It was The Harvest. There was a quieter section of the fairgrounds where the bleating of sheep, mooing of cows, and neighing of horses filled the air; and the bright, colorful, and creative displays of quilts and skirts and sweaters, jars of pickled vegetables and fruit preserves, plates of baked brownies and cookies and cakes, and informative displays of farming and ranching filled building after building; and the scents of barnyard animals and hay and baked goods wafted about. This section of the fairgrounds was devoted to The Harvest. Here was the place where folks, and I do mean folks, could show off all the hard work they had put in since Spring. Hours of tending soil and crops and animals finally came to fruition, were harvested, and proudly put on display. Stories of success and failure where traded: “I spent hours watering and weeding and fertilizing, and these are the biggest, brightest tomatoes I’ve ever had” and “That darn pig was just too smart for me! It escaped every stall I fixed and ate neighbor Joan’s garden!” Yes, even with all the new fangled glitz and glamour of crazy rides and fancy prizes and specialty food-booths, the community comes together in the olde ways to honor each other, their hard work, and The Harvest. So, I encourage you, gentle reader, to go to your local county fair this Lughnasadh season (for it is a Season, not just a Day) and honor The Harvest with the rest of the community as we did in the days of olde. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be inspired to start your own garden next spring, and maybe you’ll even participate in next year’s fair. One thing’s for sure, you’ll be one step closer Nature and the gifts we’re given during The Harvest. From the Witch's Kitchen
by Kookie Kit This august, why not have a picnic or a barbecue? the wonderful weather is perfect for this. Here are some great recipes you can try for your picnic, perfect for moving around. its a different take on the usual baby sausages, boiled eggs and sandwiches! Chicken Pesto Pasta SaladTake enough pasta to feed three or four. Grill 2 chicken breasts. When the pasta is aldente, stir in two teaspoons of pesto (vegan works best for this recipe) Let the pesto and chicken cool Cut the chicken up into little irregular pieces and stir into the pesto mix. Bacon avocado and Spinach WrapsGrill the bacon until crisp. Let it cool Peel and mash the avocados (usually about 2 for 6 wraps) Spread the avocado into the middle of the wrap Put in some bacon, add some fresh leaf spinach. wrap the filling in the tortilla wrap, folding over at the middle, then rolling. Cut into two or three pieces. You could try a little taster platter too, with various pates, oatckaes (home made if you like), crackers, olives, salami... just go nuts! Nowadays, these type of things don't cost as much as you'd think in a deli. Bake some mini new potatoes (usually takes about 20 minutes) let them cool, and serve with different kind of dips Seasonal Green SaladMix Lettuce, spinach, fresh peas (or mange tout), diced cucumber, spring onions together in a tub. Dress with your fave dressing or eat naked (NOT YOU!!!.. unless you feel like it ) Fruit kebabs.Spear cubes of watermelon, strawberries, pineapple, apples and pear (or any combination you wish) onto skewers, and drizzle with lemon juice. Take a small tub of crème fraiche or chocolate sauce with you to dip. Couscous saladYou can do anything with couscous, but i prefer to make a sweet couscous salad. This is a very tasty dish, but it depends on how sweet you want it how much honey you add. Follow the instructions on the couscous packet to cook. Add some pine nuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and honey (or you could try maple syrup) (i like a couple of tablespoons per 4 people) Mix well, taste and add some more honey to taste. Let it cool before packing. I know its not much, but these are just ideas. hope you have a wonderful summer! Creationby Magi
The main difficulty when considering creation is the limitations of the human mind. Why so? Simply that it cannot conceive or conceptualise what existed before the moment of creation. This is true no matter what view one takes, whether it be evolution, big bang theory, creationist, Intelligent Design or a bit of everything. From a spiritual perspective, it must be assumed that something was behind creation; the divine, god, or whatever name/label one chooses to use. If one does not consider this to be the case, then surely the only reason for being here is to procreate to ensure the survival of the species. If that is your path, then I wonder why you are reading this. Without some sort of creator, then the big bang, arguably, had to have been a pure accident. But what then caused the big bang? And what matter or energy existed before the big bang? A few minutes contemplating this will leave your brain frazzled as the human mind cannot possibly conceive an answer. So how much harder it is to try and comprehend what sort of ‘intelligence’ or form the creator had. The answer to that is, perhaps, even harder to comprehend. Rather than saying something existed, it is perhaps more accurate to say that 'no-thing' existed as before creation it would not have been aware of itself. Similar to a human being under anaesthetic or in a deep dreamless sleep. So how did creation get kick-started? The Qabbalistic Tree of Life gives us a clue. The following diagram shows the first three sephirah on the ToL:
You will see that the top three sephirah form a triangle and above that are three other, shall we say, energies; but let's not worry too much about those for now, except take a leap of faith and accept these are the creator before creation. Now, in order for the creator, or no-thing, to be even aware of itself, let alone know its nature, it would have to do what any good aspirant does. That is, to turn within to find itself. Remember though, that at this stage, it is not even aware it exists at this point. The moment it becomes aware of itself, or finds itself within, the first two sephirah come into being: that is 1) itself and 2) the reflection of itself that it has found within. Simultaneously with this the third sephirah comes into being which is knowing the difference between itself and its reflection. To explain this another way, imagine you are standing in front of a blank wall. You see nothing and so are not aware of yourself. Then you look into a mirror for the first time and see your reflection and become aware of yourself. At this point you know you exist because you see a reflection. The third sephirah is then knowing that the reflection is simply a reflection. All three of these conditions have to have existed for creation to occur.
Meditation on the Godby Christopher Penczak Get comfortable and set the mood for this meditation. Light some candles and incense. Sit in a comfortable position. Think of your intention to connect with the energy of the God, in whatever form he takes. Take a moment and ask for guidance and aid from your spirit guides and higher self. If feel connected to a particular form of the God, ask that aspect of the God to be present with you. Close your eyes and count backwards from twelve to one. Twelve is a solar number, and associated with the god force. Imagine yourself before a tall hill or small mountain. See, feel, sense, and know that the hill is there. It’s OK if you can’t visualize things clearly. Just imagine it and go with your impressions. Sense that the hill of the Gods is there, and it will be. Its height is a challenge, but not insurmountable. There is a pathway that guides you up, winding around the hill. Follow the pathway up. Climb higher and higher, taking notice of any rocks, plants, or animals that you encounter on your way. Each can be a sign for your journey. Certain stones can act as future talismans for you to work with this god. Plants may be in harmony with his energy, and help you reconnect. Animals can act as a guide or totem for you to return, and symbolize your connection to the God... Unfortunately we can only reproduce the first 250 words of the meditation but you can read the whole thing at http://www.llewellynjournal.com/article/817 You may be familiar with Christopher's name as he is the author of The Inner and Outer Temple of Witchcraft books, to name but two. Why not visit his website at http://www.christopherpenczak.com/ Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. grants permission to use a portion of this article as originally posted at: The Llewellyn Journal -- www.llewellynjournal.com 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125 People in MagickScott Cunningham
Scott Cunningham was born at the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA, the second son of Chester Grant Cunningham and Rose Marie Wilhoit Cunningham. The Cunningham family moved to San Diego, California in the fall of 1959. The family moved there because of Rose Marie's health issues. The doctors in Royal Oak declared the mild climate in San Diego ideal for her. Outside of many trips to Hawaii, Scott lived in San Diego until his death. Scott had one older brother, Greg, and a younger sister, Christine. When he was in high school he became associated with a girl whom he knew to deal in the occult and covens. This classmate introduced him to Wicca and trained him in Wiccan spirituality. He was initiated into various traditional covens. He studied creative writing at San Diego State University, where he enrolled in 1978. After two years in the program, however, he had more published works than several of his professors, and dropped out of the university to write full time. In 1983 Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with lymphoma. Over the years his health deteriorated, and in 1990 while on a speaking tour in Massachusetts, he was diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis. He suffered from several infections brought on by his cancer, and finally died in early 1993. He was thirty-six years old. Cunningham's religious beliefs were simple and easy to understand. He practiced a fairly basic interpretation of Witchcraft, often worshipping alone, though his book series for solitaries describes several instances in which he worshipped with friends and teachers. While his beliefs were simple, he had arguably every detail of his religion thought out. He practiced things thoroughly, however he went out of his way to make sure explanations were brief and clear in his books. This exemplified his belief that everyone's religion was deeply personal and invariably individual. In Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, easily Scott's most successful book, he wrote, Learn by doing, and the Goddess and God will bless you with all that you truly need. He also believed that Wicca, which had been a very secretive religion in the past, should become more open and accepting to newcomers. In the same book, he wrote, Wicca has been, up until the past decade or so, a closed religion, but no more. The inner components of Wicca are available to anyone who can read and has the proper wit to understand the material. Wicca's only secrets are its individual ritual forms, spells, names of deities and so on. It is reported that in 1980 Scott studied in a tradition under Raven Grimassi, another popular neopagan author. This is verified by Grimassi who admits that Cunningham studied under him for three years as a first degree initiate in his system. Cunningham later moved on, as Grimassi states: "In favor of a self-styled approach to Wicca". Scott Cunningham has been one of the biggest selling authors on Wicca, particularly for solitary practitioners. However, a portion of the Wiccan community consider his teachings to be a skewed idea of what Wicca was really meant to be, and blame the large fluffy bunny following of their religion upon him. He is blamed by his critics for being the source of the "make-up-your-own-religion-as-you-go-along" attitude which the so-called fluffies believe in. This viewpoint is generally held by the more traditional and classic practioners. Scott Cunningham's Books:
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Cunningham Charge of the Bright GoddessBy Kathleen Sage, July, 2006 The version of The Charge of the Dark Goddess on Weavings has inspired Kathleen to write the Charge of the Bright Goddess. Life and Light are the treasures of the Bright Goddess, Twin Sister of the Dark Herself. She has been known as Sol, Freya, Aphrodite, Artemis, Bast, White Tara, Kuan Yin, Laxmi, Abundantia, Demeter, Saraswati and the Original Light from which the world was born when She made love and danced with Her own reflection. Here are Her words: I am the gentle sunlight suffused through morning’s quiet moments, the new hope born each day at its dawning hour. Find me in meadow and grove, where my flowers entice and soft mosses glow. I am present in the tender embrace of lovers, and dwell in the first kiss of undeniable desire I am joy manifest, in drumming and dance, love affairs and play. I am wherever pleasure is, in abundant foods, and feasts, and all who smile. I am the moment of illumination, when life appears at its eternal, magical best. I am the bud in bloom, the growing child, the ecstasy of being, the force of unfolding frond, the shoots of new life in spring, the quickening in leaf and loin. I am laughter and delight. I am the sweetness of the doe, the mirth of the otter and the harmony of the songbirds. Honor these, and know my gifts. I am the Full Moon of summer, the Mother, the giver of abundance and endless bounty. My love is the cornucopia of blessings which I shower upon my children. I lift from your shoulders the mantle of your concerns, and illumine the joy of your original self. Ask me for what you desire, and you shall be free of want. I am the Nurturing Lover, the spirit of mystic union, the fertile giver, the healer who leads you to waken to the day. I journey with you and light the path ahead with my ever-brilliant torch. Give to me your fears and doubts, and I will transform them into clarity and confidence. I am the Queen of Alfhame, the delight of the faery folk, the glimpse of magic at the threshold of worlds. I am the laughter of sylphs and the sparkles on moving currents and wave. I am the traveler discovering new worlds, the doorway swinging wide to lands beyond the known. I am the laurel crown of victory, the realization of goals, the exaltation of achievement. I am the gold of the alchemists, and of dwarves, and I offer you my powers to enchant. I am the turning point in the dark night, a flash of knowledge, the thought of hope, the visions come true. I show you how to manifest your dreams in living colors. I am a Shining One, timeless in my wisdom and desire to guide you. I hold you in my warm and loving embrace, am kind and patient. Look for me, and invite my presence, and I will share with you my radiance and grace, my joy and magic in being. All the Fun, None of the Workby Magi The following article was first posted on the Weavings forum. Why not let us know what you think? If someone wants to gain a degree, they accept that they have to go to university and work hard. If someone wants to be a doctor, then again they know they have to study and work hard. If someone wants to learn a trade, say a plumber, again they know they have to work hard. And yet when it comes to magick, people think it can come instantly. They try meditating two or three times and say, “nope, can’t do that”. After couple of attempts at astral travelling they give up because they can’t talk to someone who lives half way across the world. If I tried to do anything to the engine of my car right now, I would end up with a pile of metal bits and a pool of oil that would only be fit for the scrap yard. However, if I took a course in car mechanics and sought help and advice, the chances are I could put it back together again. With practice, I might even improve its performance. What a lot of people new to this path don’t appreciate is that it can be a path of tremendous spiritual growth, but only if one puts the work in – the reason why, in some paths, it is known as the Great Work. And so they fall by the wayside and miss out on the tremendous experiences that can be their’s if only they are prepared to put in the effort. I think this, in some ways, is a reflection of the society we live in with its ‘I want it now’ attitude. I would suggest that some of those new to the path see it is a form of materialism or commercialism: ‘Where do I pay my money to get instant enlightenment’ without realising that real progress takes many years of hard work. Maybe it is a fashion statement like the latest cell/mobile phone that does everything apart from washing the dishes. But the sad thing is that those who quickly become disillusioned are denying themselves real growth for the want of putting in the event. I think it a missed opportunity that many pagans call themselves pagan in the same way that many Christians put Christian on a form when asked what their religion is when they may never enter into a church or only give Christ and his teachings a fleeting glimpse at Christmas time. The real secret to growth and enlightenment is that you really can do anything you want to if you are only prepared to put in the work. In the NewsConvicted witch pardoned 300 years after trialVIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Witch of Pungo is no longer a witch. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Monday gave an informal pardon to Grace Sherwood, who 300 years ago became Virginia’s only person convicted as a witch tried by water. “I am pleased to officially restore the good name of Grace Sherwood,” Kaine wrote in a letter Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf read aloud before a re-enactment of Sherwood’s being dropped into the river. “With 300 years of hindsight, we all certainly can agree that trial by water is an injustice,” Kaine wrote. “We also can celebrate the fact that a woman’s equality is constitutionally protected today, and women have the freedom to pursue their hopes and dreams.” Sherwood, a midwife who at times wore men’s clothes, lived in what today is the rural Pungo neighborhood, and she later became known as “The Witch of Pungo.” Her neighbors thought she was a witch who ruined crops, killed livestock and conjured storms, and she went to court a dozen times, either to fight witchcraft charges or to sue her accusers for slander. She was 46 when she was accused in her final case of using her powers to cause a neighbor to miscarry. Witch test On July 10, 1706, Sherwood was dropped into the Lynnhaven River and floated — which was considered proof she was guilty because the pure water cast out her evil spirit, according to the belief system of the time. The theory behind the ducking test was that if she sank, she was innocent, although she would also drown. Sherwood may have been jailed until 1714, when records show she paid back taxes and with the help of then-Gov. Alexander Spotswood she was able to reclaim her property. She then lived quietly until her death at 80. Belinda Nash, 59, has been researching Sherwood for years and asked for the governor to exonerate the woman. A group annually remembers Sherwood with a re-enactment in the river. Re-enactment ceremony For Monday’s ceremony attended by about 60 people, the re-enactment took place on land — in front of the Ferry Plantation House, a historic home where Nash volunteers as director and, dressed in costume, tells visitors about Sherwood. The courthouse where part of Sherwood’s trial took place was located on the old plantation property. Nash’s daughter, Danielle Sheets, was tied cross-bound, her thumbs to her toes, and placed in a small boat, just as Sherwood would have been. “I be not a witch. I be a healer,” Sheets shouted, in character. “Before this day be through, ye will all get a worse ducking than I.” Although the skies had been clear, as the real Sherwood was pulled from the water, a downpour supposedly started. The sky remained clear Monday. source: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13807874/?GT1=8307 Book ReviewThe Sea Priestess by Dion FortuneReviewed by Magi Dion Fortune was a British occultist and author whose books still influence modern Witchcraft and neo-Paganism. She was an adept in ceremonial magic, and was perhaps one of the first occult authors to approach magic and hermetic concepts from the psychology of Jung and Freud. For some Witches and Neo-pagan her fictional works are considered more important than her non-fiction, because they are filled with Pagan themes and rituals. It has also been said that Dion and Crowley worked with, or at least contributed, to Gerald Gander's neo-Wiccan path. The Sea Priestess tells the story of William Maxwell, a chronic asthma sufferer. His asthma triggers a number of out of body experiences, transporting him to an earlier time. He meets Vivien Le Fay Morgan - a practising initiate of the Hermetic Path. Vivien has the ability to transform herself into magical images, and here she becomes Morgan Le Fay, sea priestess of Atlantis. Inextricably drawn to an ancient cult, she learns the esoteric significance of the magnetic ebb and flow of the moon-tides. William becomes a player in the ancient mystery drama and is initiated as a Priest of the Moon having willingly dedicated himself to the service of the Goddess. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and had trouble putting it down; and it is very few books that have that effect on me. If you have a little knowledge of the esoteric, then that will help reveal things that Dion does not say right out. But even if you haven't, the book is a good read. Bear in mind though that it was first published in 1935 and the style may not be to everyone's taste having more of a classical than contemporary flavour. That being said, it is far from the stilted style of books written earlier in the century. The true purpose of the book was said to have been to reveal how the drawing down of the moon and Great Invocation rituals should be performed. But don't forget, this book was written before the repeal of The Witchcraft Act in England so don't expect to find a step by step account. It is by reading between the lines that the true information can be found. Witchcraft ban ends in Zimbabwe
By Steve Vickers BBC, Harare Zimbabwe has lifted a ban on the practice of witchcraft, repealing legislation dating back to colonial rule. From July the government acknowledges that supernatural powers exist - but prohibits the use of magic to cause someone harm. In 1899, colonial settlers made it a crime to accuse someone of being a witch or wizard - wary of the witch hunts in Europe a few centuries earlier which saw many people burned at the stake after such accusations. But to most Zimbabweans, especially those who grew up in the rural areas, it has been absurd to say that the supernatural does not exist. In fact, it is not hard to find vivid stories about the use of magic. Alfred, for example, believes that he was bewitched at work some years ago, making him partly bald. He described how after supper one evening as he and his wife were retiring to bed his hair disappeared. "When my wife came into the bedroom she look at me and said, 'What happened to your hair? Where's it gone?' Claims of witchcraft need to be investigated instead of putting down every disorder in society that is taking in our society to witchcraft or modern magic Thomas Deve, social commentator "She saw a bald patch from the forehead going back on the side of the head. There was no trace of it," he says. He spent seven months visiting traditional healers to make it grow back. "She made some incisions round the bald patch, put some powdery muti (medicine) and lo and behold within a few day the hair had grown." There are many other accounts of the use of magic, and the new law effectively legitimises many practices of traditional healers. These include rolling bones to foretell the future, divination, attempts to communicate with the dead, using muti - traditional powders and fetishes - to ensure the desired sex of a child. But there will be some legal grey areas, like whether it is legal for a husband to place some charms in his bedroom - charms that may injure his wife if she is unfaithful. Professor Claude Mararikei - a sociologist and the chairman of Zimbabwe's Traditional Medical Practitioner's Council - argues that witchcraft has some positive benefits in the modern world. He cites the example of a man who stole some bewitched cement that became stuck to the thief's shoulders so he could not remove the bag. "So if you have that knowledge to capture a thief in a cattle kraal when he comes for the cows, well and good. It's like electrifying the fence round your house," he says. Others believe that the country would be better off without elevating the supernatural. "I think it's a waste of time and energy. The urban areas are not really caught up in these supernatural issues," says social commentator Thomas Deve. "Claims of witchcraft need to be investigated instead of putting down every disorder in society that is taking in our society to witchcraft or modern magic," he adds. The church in Zimbabwe has always believed that witchcraft exists, but it has been careful to establish the source of such supernatural powers. "As Christians we've got to recognise that supernatural forces are good if they originate from God - now witchcraft is one of the things that originates from the Satanic world," says Reverend Roy Musasiwa who runs a theological college in the capital, Harare. The Witchcraft Suppression Act was used fairly frequently, but prosecuting someone under the new legislation may prove difficult. The new Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act will demand proof that a person has supernatural powers and that they are using them to harm others. "It's not going to be easy task," says Custom Kachambwa, a judge with years of experience in the legal field. He says witnesses will often be traditional healers, who could be accused of practising harmful magic in the future. But whatever the problems, the repealing of the witchcraft laws is another sign that Zimbabwe's government is continuing to move away from Western values and placing more emphasis on the country's own traditions. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/5134244.stm
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Arguably, one of the most influential people of the solitary neo-Wiccan path is Scott Cunningham. He appears on our 
